Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who has struggled for months with a left shoulder injury, was not in the lineup Wednesday, the second consecutive game he has missed, and manager Joe Maddon wouldn't rule out a trip to the disabled list.

"Can't say it's impossible. Everything is in play right now. … I don't have anything long term positively or negatively right now," Maddon told reporters (via ESPN.com) when asked about the possibility of Bryant being placed on the DL.

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Bryant's status was part of a not particularly positive day of injury reports for the Cubs ahead of their day game against the Diamondbacks:

- Closer Brandon Morrow's sore biceps is feeling better, but he won't be activated Saturday, the first day he's eligible to come off the DL, Maddon said.

"I'm hoping to pick up a baseball by (Saturday)," Morrow said Wednesday. "I haven't been throwing. There is a little bit of soreness left, but it's going in the right direction. Each day it's been better."

Morrow said he doesn't expect the issue to linger when he returns, saying the biceps pain is a "fraction" of what it was. He has been sidelined since before the All-Star break.

"He's progressing," manager Joe Maddon said. "Still feeling something in there. I want to be patient with that so when he does come back this time we don't have any more setbacks."

- The Cubs began Wednesday's 2:20 p.m. ET game shorthanded but were hopeful that Javier Baez, who left Tuesday's game after a hard slide by Steven Souza on a tag play at second, would be available by mid-game.

He was seen testing his left knee in the outfield before the game, ESPN.com reported.

- Starter Yu Darvish (elbow) will throw another bullpen session from the mound this weekend in St. Louis, but there remains no timetable for his return.

That's one reason the Cubs are looking for pitching help before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

"Marquee names are nice names, but sometimes there's others that are very useful too so we'll see how it all plays out," Maddon said.

Case in point: Reliever Jesse Chavez, acquired from the Rangers recently, has retired all 12 batters he has faced as a Cub, leading Maddon to consider him in closing situations while Morrow remains out.